Sanitary milk bottle capping head



April 1952 R. E. BODENDOERFER ET AL 5 5 SANITARY MILK BOTTLE CAPPINGHEAD Filed March '7, 1949 s Sheets$heet 1 April 1, 1952 I R. E.BODENDOERFER ETAL 2,591,501

SANITARY MILK BOTTLE CAPPING HEAD Filed March '7, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2/4 35 .C'ic? April 1, 1952 R. E. BODENDOERFER ET AL 5 5 SANITARY MILKBOTTLE CAPPING HEAD Filed March 7, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 v -am lllll VHTFOf/VZI S.

Patented Apr. 1, 1952 UNITED STATES ENT OFF! CE- 2,591,501

Ray E. Bo'aenabe'rier and David-G. Fee, Milwaultedahdlieriiiaii C.Frent'zel, shorewood; Wis, assign'ors to Federal ManufacturingMilwaukee, Wis acorporation of Wisconsin Application Marcli l, 1949;Serial No. 793282 4 Claims. (Cl. 226'9'2) The present invention relatesin-general to inn provement in closing machines for s'ealingreceptaclessuch as commodity ladenbottles in rapid succession, and relates morespecificallyto improvements in the construction and operation ofautomatic milk bottle cappers'or the like.

The primary object-of our invention isto-provide various improvements-inthe-constructionof milk bottle'capping heads whereby such devices may berapidly dismantled for effective cleaning, and just asrapidlyreassembled'for normal operation.

It has heretofore been common commercial practice in the dairy-industry,to utilize so-called capping heads for the purpose of applying both fiatdisks and cup-shaped'closures in rapid suecession to milk laden bottles.Because of the fatty nature of the product and in'or'd'er to maintainthe sealing apparatus in sanitary condition, it is necessary tofrequently dismantle and clean the 'cap feeding and applying mechanism,and to reassemble the same for normal operation after cleaning has beeneffected. In all known prior capping head assemblages, ithasbeennecessary in order to effect such dismantling and assembly of the parts;to manipulateretaininfg screws and nuts which not only produced filthcollecting pockets and-corners difiicult toclean, but also requiredconsiderame time" and c'aused'objectiom able delay in cappingoperations. Theprio'rcip ping heads w'ere'therefore hard to maintain insanitarycondition without introducing excessive loss of operating time,besides being relativel complicated in structure.

It is thereforean ir'n'portantobject of the pres"- ent invention toprovide a'simplified cap feeding slide structure for milk bottle closuremechanisms, which may be very quickly and most co'nveniently dismantledand assembled bymereiy manipulating a singie retainer pin or smoothelement.

Another object of our invention is topro'vide improvedinstrumentalities' for quickly" assem bling and disassembling milkbottle sealing mechanisms adapted to apply either disk or cup typeclosures to the receptacles.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved milkbottlecapper'whichis simple, compact and durable in construction, andwhich may be most conveniently cleaned and maintained'in sanitaryand'efficient operating condition.

Still another object of this invention is to pro vide animproved'capping head for milk filled bottles'or the like, which may belrlanufacture'd and sold at moderate cost for co'operation with varioustypesof 'autom'aticfiller's.

These-and other objects and advantagesof our invention will be apparentfrom thermmwmg detailed description.

A -cle'ar conception of the features constitiiting the presentimprovementand of-the constriietien and operation of two "types ofcapping heads-'e'inbodying the invention, maybe hadby' refe in; to thedrawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification whereinlike reference characters designate the same or similar parts.

Fig; 1 isa perspective View o'f 'a' partial-1y dismantled milk bottlecapping headfof the" are adapted to 'applycov'erall cup shapedclosiirecaps to the successive bottles Fig; 2'is'an enlarged sideelevation orthe saine capping head with the slide actuating lever omitted andshowing'the" unit assembled for nor: m e:

Fig. 3"is a similarly enlarged top-viewer the assembled capping head ofFig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a likewiseenlarg'edverticalsection through the cap applyingzone of the 'coverall capping head-of F' Z'and 3, with mostbfth'eactuating 'me'chani m" orn'ittedbutsliowing a cap in positionpreparatory toapplida'tion thereof to bo Fig. 51sec eiiplodedpefspebtiveview of'a disman'tle'd milk bottle capping" head of the" iyi adapted toapply flat'elosuiedisksto' the suc= cessivebottles Fig- 6 is an enlargedside elevation of the tap ping mechanism shown in" Fig. 5, showing thesame assembled;

Fig. '7 i a similarly-enlarged top vi'ewofthe assemblage shown in Fig.6; and u Fig. 8 is a likewise'enlarged front viewofthe mainframe, bottomplate, and connecting pino f the capping head'disclosed-in Figs." 6' and7.

While the invention has been-shown and described herein as-havingb'eenapplied to only two specific types of milk b'o'ttle capping heads, it isnot our intention to unnecessarily restrict the applicability of theimproved features by virtue of these limited embodiments; andit-isalsocontemplated that specific descriptive terms employed herein be-g iventhe broadest possible interpretation consistent withthe disclosure.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 4' inclusive; the overall cappe'rshown therein comprises in general a vertically movable main casing orframe [0 havingan-upright stacked cap recep: tacle H and a verticalsuspension rod bore: 12 therein, and'being provided with an integralhorizontal base I3 at the lower open ends of the receptacle and bore; abottom late I4 having integral opposite hook flanges I5 cooperable withthe opposite sides of the base I3, and also having an open rear slot I6cooperable with a depending headed projection II permanently secured tothe rear of the base I3, and a bottle head receiving opening I8 disposedin vertical alinement with the bore l2; a cap transfer slide I9'normally slidably confined between the frame base I3 and the bottomplate I4 by the flanges I5 and projection I1 and slot I6, and by anassembly pin 20 coacting with alineable holes 2|, 22 formed in the frontportions of the base I3 and plate I4 respectively; opposite oscillatoryside arms 23 swingable upon a pivot shaft 24 mounted in and piercing theframe l and having a rock lever 25 secured to an outer end thereof, eachof the arms 23 being provided with a wedge surface 26 and having itsswinging extremity connected to the adjacent side of the slide I9 by alink 21; a fixed frame suspension rod 28 slidably coacting with th framebore l2 and having opposite side pins 29 extending through upright slots36 in the frame I0 for cooperation with the wedge surfaces 26; and a capapplying plug 3I pressed within the lower end of the bore I2 and beingcooperable with the successive bottle caps 33 to apply the same to themilk filled successive bottle heads when elevated through the openingI8.

The frame I8 and base I3 are preferably formed as a single block ofcorrosion-proof metal, devoid of unnecessary pockets and sharp corners,and the cap receptacle II is slotted at the rear and is adapted to holda considerable supply of the so-called overall bottle caps 33 stackedupon each other with the peripheral cap flanges directed downwardly. Thebottom plate I4 and the cap transfer slide I9 as well as other parts ofthe mechanism, are also preferably formed of corrosion resistantmaterial, and when the frame and bottom plate have been properlyassembled as in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the rear slot I6 engages theprojection I1 and the flanges I engage the base I3 while the verticallyremovable smooth retaining pin 26 coacts with the alined holes 2|, 22 tohold the frame I0 and plate I4 in spaced relation so as to permit freereciprocation of the slide I9 therebetween. However, upon upwardwithdrawal of the pin 26, the bottom plate I4 and slide I9 may be pulledforwardly to release the plate I4 from the frame base I3 and to causethe plate and slide to drop away from the frame Ill for convenientcleaning, as depicted in Fig. 1. Reassembly of the mechanism after suchdismantling has been effected may be just as quickly accomplished, thusmaking it possible to ffect cleaning with minimum loss of time.

The front edge of the slide I9 is curved to conform with the peripheryof the caps 33, and the thickness of this edge is also approximatelyequal to the cap height; so that each forward movement of the slide I9as shown in dot-anddash lines in Fig. 2 and produced by the lever 25through the arms 23 and links 21 will feed afresh cap 33 over theopening I8 from the lower end of the supply stack. However, eachrearward movement of the slide l9 caused by the pins 29 coacting withthe wedge surfaces 26 of the arms 23 will return the slide l9 to capreceiving position, as illustrated in solid lines in Fig. 2. The entirecapping unit is vertically slidably suspended from the lower end of thesta-- tionary suspension rod 23 which snugly engages the front framebore I2 above the fixed plug 3I,

and the successive liquid filled bottles are adapted to be elevated soas to cause the caps 33 to be applied to the heads thereof by the plug3| and to thereafter lift the frame I0 bodily in order to cause thefixed pins 29 to swing the arms 23 rearwardly, while the lever 25 isautomatically operable in a well known manner to swing the arms 23forwardly whenever the frame I0 descends along its suspension rod 28.The swinging ends of the arms 23 are pivotally attached to correspondingends of the links 21 and the opposite corresponding ends of these linksare likewise secured to integral flanges 35 at the opposite sides of theslide I9, and the portion of the bottom plate It beneath the opening I8is preferably tapered as in Fig. 4 in order to properly guide the bottleheads.

Referring especially to Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive, the disk type cappershown therein comprises in general a vertically movable main casing orhousing 40 having an upright stacked closure disk receptacle 4i and avertical suspension rod bore 42 therein, and being provided with anintegral horizontal base 43 at the lower open ends of the receptacle andbore; a bottom plate 44 having integral opposite hook fianges 45cooperable with the opposite sides of the base 43, and also having anopen rear slot 46 cooperable with a depending headed projection 41fixedly secured to the rear of the base 43, and a bottle head receivingopening 48 located in vertical alinement with the bore 42; a disk captransfer slide 49 normally slidably confined in the space between theframe base 43 and the bottom plate 44 by the flanges 45 and slot 46 andprojection 41, and by an assembly pin 59 coacting with alineable holes5|, 52 formed in the base 43 and plate 44 respectively; oppositeoscillatory side arms 53 swingable upon a pivot bolt 54 carried by andpiercing the frame 40, each of these arms 53 having a hook projection 55and a cooperating wedge surface 56, and also having its swinging lowerextremity connected to an actuating yoke 65 for the slide 49 by a link51; a fixed frame suspension rod 58 slidably coacting with the framebore 42 and having opposite side roller pins 59 slidable within slots 60formed in the frame 40, these pins being cooperable with the armprojections 55 and with the wedge surfaces 56; a cap applying head 6|formed integral with the lower end of the frame suspension rod 58 forforcing the disk caps 63 into the openings of the successive milk filledbottles; and a helical compression spring 62 embracing the rod 58 abovethe frame 46 and reacting against a washer 64 secured to the rod.

The frame 46 and base 43 of the disk capper are also preferably formedas a single block of corrosion resistant metal, devoid of unnecessarypockets and corners, and the disk receptacle 4| is slotted at the rearand is adapted to hold a substantial supply of flat disc caps 63 stackedupon each other. The bottom plate 44 and the disk cap transfer slide 49as well as other parts of the assemblage, are likewise preferably formedof corrosion resistant material, and when the frame and bottom platehave been properly assembled as in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the rear slot 46engages the projection 41 and the flanges 45 engage side rails 66 on thebase 43 while the vertically removable smooth retainer pin 56 coactswith the alined holes 5|, 52 to retain frame 49 and plate 44 in spacedrelation so as to permit free reciprocation of the slide 49therebetween. However, when the pin 50 is lifted out of the opening 52,the-bottom plate 44 may be pulled forward to release the plate 44 andthe slide 49 -from the base 43 and yoke 65, as depicted in Fig. 5.' Theslide actuating yoke 65 coacts loosely with the opposite sides of theslide 49 and engages the rails 66 with which the hook flanges 45 alsocoact; and when the capping unit has been thus dismantled, reassembly ofthe mechanism may be just as easily and quickly effected after the partshave been cleaned, with minimum-waste of time.

The front edge of the slide 49 is curved to conform with the peripheralcurvature of the flat disk caps 63 as illustrated in Fig. 5, and thethickness of the slide 49 is approximately equal to the thickness ofeach disk cap 63 so that each forward motion of the slide bytheexpanding helical spring 62 andby the projections 55 coacting with theroller pins 59, whenever a bottle has beencapped and is withdrawn fromthe opening 48, will transfer a fresh cap 63 from the supply stack tothe'capping zone. However, each rearward motion of the slide 49 causedby the roller pins 59 coacting with the wedge surfaces 56 of the arms53, when the frame 48 is lifted by an ascending liquid filled bottle,will be accompanied by a compression of the spring 62 and a descent ofthe cap supply stack. Since the entire capping unit is suspended fromand is slidable vertically along the stationary rod 58 which snuglyengages the front frame bore 42, the successive bottles will be cappedby the head 6| which forces the caps 63 into the bottle openings whenthe bottles are raised into capping position. During such alternatelowering and raising of the frame 40 and associated parts, by thesuccessive liquid filled bottles, the slide actuating yoke 65 will bereciprocated along the side rails 66 of the bottom plate 44 by theoscillating arms 53, and the portion of the plate 44 beneath the opening48 is preferably tapered as shown in Fig. 8 in order to properly guideand center the bottle necks relative to the plunger head 6|.

Both types of cappers illustrated function to automatically apply thecaps 33, 63 to the successive liquid filled bottles whenever the latterare elevated to raise the frames I0, 40 upon their fixed suspension rods28, 58 respectively; and to feed fresh caps 33, 63 into the capping zonewhen the frames I0, 48 drop by gravity. Both of these cappingassemblages may be quickly dismantled for inspection and thoroughcleaning as in Figs. 1 and by merely withdrawing a single retainer pin20, 59 and by thereafter sliding the bottom plate I 4, 44 forwardly torelease the same; and both cappers may also be just as quicklyreassembled for normal operation by merely restoring the bottom platesI4, 44 to the positions shown in Figs. 2 and 6, and by merely droppingthe retainer pin 20, 50 into the alined receiving holes of the frame andbottom plate, thus obviously making provision for rapid and convenientdismantling and reassembling of the mechanisms. The normal operation ofthe two types of units, is well known to those familiar with the milkbottle capping art, and the mode of suspending the stationary rods 28,58 is also well known.

From the foregoing detailed description it should be apparent that ourpresent invention in fact provides improvements in the construction ofmilk bottle capping heads or units, whereby such devices may be rapidlydismantled for effective cleansing, and just as rapidly reassembled fornormal operation. Such operations may be corners.

conveniently effectedbynmerely manipulating a single smooth retainerpinv 28, 581 :andby sliding the bottom plate I4, 44 along the frame baseI3, 43, and the invention is conveniently applicable to either a diskcapper or to an overall capper. The several improved capping units shownare obviously simple, compact and durable in construction while beingdevoid of inaccessible and unnecessary filth accumulatingv pockets andThe devices may also be manufactured and sold at moderate cost, forcooperation with various types of bottlefilling machines, and both typesof cappers shown herein have'provenhigh- 1y satisfactory and successfulin actual commercial operation.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this inventionto the exact details of construction or to the precise'mode of operationof the two specific types of cappers shown and described herein, forvarious modifications within the scope of the appended claims may occurto persons skilled in the art.

We claim: 7

1. A milk bottle capper comprising, a Vertically movable suspended framehaving an integral protruding base provided with integral opposite siderails and also having a receptacle for delivering closure caps throughthe base, a feed slide movable along the lower surface of said base totransfer the successive caps from said receptacle to a laterallydisposed capping zone, a bottom plate having integral hook flangescoacting with said rails to support said slide and also having anopening between said flanges and communicating with said capping zone,and a freely vertically removable pin coacting with said base and plateto normally prevent relative shifting thereof, said bottom plate flangesbeing freely laterally removable from said base rails only when said pinhas been removed.

2. A milk bottle capper comprising, a vertically movable suspended framehaving an integral protruding base provided with integral opposite siderails and a rear depending projection and also having a receptacle fordelivering closure caps through the base, a feed slide movable along thelower surface of said base to transfer the successive caps from saidreceptacle to a laterally disposed capping zone, a bottom plate havingintegral hook flanges coacting with said rails and a slot coacting withsaid projection to support said slide and also having an opening betweensaid flanges communicating with said capping zone, and a freelyvertically removable pin having a head resting upon said base and ashank coacting with said base and plate to normally prevent relativeshifting thereof, said bottom plate flanges and slot being freelylaterally removable from said base rails and projection only when saidpin has been removed.

3. A milk bottle capper comprising, a frame suspended for verticalmovement along an upright axis and having a base provided with integralopposite side rails and also having a receptacle disposed laterally ofsaid axis for delivering closure caps in succession through the base, afeed slide movable along the lower surface of said base to transfersuccessive caps from said receptacle to a capping zone at said axis, abottom plate supporting said slide and having integral hook flangescooperable with said rails and an opening between said flangescommunicating with said zone from beneath, and a freely removable pinresting upon the base and having a shank coacting with said base andplate to normally prevent relative shifting thereof, said bottom plateflanges being freely removable from said base rails only after said pinhas been removed.

4. A milk bottle capper comprising, a frame suspended for verticalmovement along an upright axis and having a base provided with integralside rails and a depending headed projection and also having areceptacle disposed laterally of said axis for delivering closure capsin succession through the base, a feed slide movable along the lowersurface of said base to transfer successive caps from said receptacle toa capping zone at said axis, a bottom plate supporting said slide andhaving integral hook flanges cooperable with said rails and a slotcooperable with said projection and also having an opening between saidflanges communicating with said zone from beneath, and a freelyremovable pin resting upon said base and having a shank coacting withsaid base and plate to normally prevent relative shifting thereof, saidbottom plate flanges and slot being freely removable from said baserails and projecting only after said pin has been removed.

RAY E. BODENDOERFER.

DAVID C. FEE.

HERMAN C. FRENTZEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,097,383 Riemer Oct. 26, 19372,384,052 Stewart et a1. Sept. 4, 1945 2,473,523 Henschen June 21, 19492,518,294 Dennis et al Aug. 8, 1950 2,524,594 Franz Oct. 3, 19502,533,437 Dennis et al Dec. 12, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date456,262 Germany Feb. 20, 1928

